Saturday, July 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Sukh Ram gets 3-yr RI
New Delhi, July 5
Former Union Communication Minister and President of the Himachal Vikas Congress Sukh Ram, was today convicted and sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court in the Rs 1.68 crore telecom equipment scam. Slapping a fine of Rs 2 lakh, the Special Judge, Mr V.K. Jain, allowed the accused time until August 5 to file an appeal. 
In video (28k, 56k)

        Quits as House panel chief
       Editorial: Sukh Ram’s conviction

Former Telecom Minister and Himachal Vikas Party chief Sukh Ram and (right) former Deputy Director in the Department of Telecom Runu Ghosh come out of the Patiala House court complex after their conviction in the telecom scam case in New Delhi on Monday. 
— PTI photo

Mixed reaction in Himachal
Ghumarwin rally as scheduled
Shimla, July 5
Conviction of Mr Sukh Ram in a case of corruption has come as an embarrassment for the BJP which wrested power in Himachal with the support of his HVC and a setback to the Congress leaders try hard to get his expulsion from the party revoked before the coming Assembly elections.

ISI escort for Al-Qaida men
New Delhi, July 5
Despite repeated attempts by Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf to convince the world of Islamabad distancing itself from the Al-Qaida and not providing any logistical or financial support to it, strong evidence is available to the contrary.

      World page: 5 US choppers to monitor border

Ultras kill Awami Mahaz leader
Srinagar, July 5
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a leader of the Awami Mahaz (Peoples Front) and injured two others, including its chairman, in their office here his afternoon. The police here said that militants fired upon Mr Ghulam Nabi Dar, Chairman of the Awami Mahaz, injuring him at the Chota Bazar office of the party here at about 12.30 p.m. today. 

Ultras turn jugglers to fulfil “mission”
Jammu, July 5
The place: a police station in the city. A youth in handcuffs amuses a group of newsmen with magic tricks. From a distance a newsman is asked to write anything on a piece of paper. He writes “786”. Another “scribbles” “Azhar Masood”. 

2-yr jail term for dishonour of cheques
New Delhi, July 5
The one year imprisonment for issuing cheques which bounce has now been increased to two years. This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting here today. 

BJP accuses Amarinder of selective morality
New Delhi, July 5
The Bharatiya Janata Party today took strong exception to recent transfers of certain key officials involved in investigations of cases of corruption in Punjab saying that state Chief Minister Amarinder Singh should realise that fight against corruption “cannot be carried on the basis of selective morality”.

Patiala Judge to conduct inquiry Ruchika’s brother ‘falsely implicated’ in six cases Chandigarh, July 5 Months after a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the state of Haryana and other respondents to show cause why they should not be burdened with compensation for being paid to Ruchika’s brother — Ashu Girhothra — “falsely implicated” in six cases, a Division Bench of the High Court today asked Patiala’s District Judge “to conduct an inquiry and submit his report to the Court expeditiously but not later than six months from the date of receiving the record”.